NAD in Action

• Exhibited at the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCHDHH) Conference, Washington, DC.

March 2007-March 2008

Exhibited at NASDSE Training Conference, Overland Park, KS; ASL Expo, Kansas City, MO; Disability Awareness Day, Manhattan, KS; Deaf Day, Topeka, KS; Kansas Interpreter Association, Overland Park, KS; DeafNation, Austin, TX; DeafNation, Phoenix, AZ.

On the organizing committee for and participated in 2008 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Participated in Deaf History Month Celebration, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Keynote presentations and workshops at conferences, graduation speeches at commencement ceremonies and program book letters of welcome for national, state and local conferences.

Telecommunications and Technology

This action priority has four sub-areas: Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT); Closed Captioning Exemptions; Caption Quality and Enforcement; DTV and HDTV Captioning; and Relay Services.

Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT)

October – December 2006

• Met with Congressional staff to gauge interest in and plans to act on telecommunications and information services “wish list.”

January – March 2007

• Co-founded the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (www.COATaccess.org).

April – June 2007

• Met with Congressional staff to outline the need for legislative action to ensure accessible telecommunications and information services.
• Achieved requirement that voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication providers enable access to 711 and contribute to the telecommunications relay service (TRS) fund.

July – September 2007

• Assisted with drafting COAT outline for legislative action to ensure accessible telecommunications and information services. 
• Co-presented a briefing about COAT efforts at the TDI national conference.
• Edited recommended legislative report language for a bill to modernize the nation’s 911 system and assisted with drafting a letter to members of Congress in support of the bill. 
• Wrote NADmag article on “Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology.”

October – December 2007

• Submitted opposition to requests for unlimited or two-year waivers from FCC rules for implementing TTY over VoIP to 711 to 911 requirements that resulted in an FCC order granting an extension of six months.
• Participated in Congressional hearing about the transition to DTV; testimony was delivered by TDI on behalf of COAT.
• Investigated Sirius Backseat TV system installed in 2008 Chrysler vehicles; sent letter to Chrysler requesting closed caption function be included.
• Continued to meet with Congressional staff on draft for new legislation to ensure accessible telecommunications and information services.
• Celebrated the issuance of draft legislation, the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, proposed by the House of Representatives.  Click here for more information, along with links to the text and a summary of the draft legislation.

January - March 2008

• Encouraged state association affiliates to demonstrate support for the “21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act” by writing letters to members of Congress.
• Met with various industry representatives and congressional staff members to discuss the draft House legislation, “21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.”

Closed Captioning Exemptions

October – December 2006

• Opposed FCC order that created new category of non-profit programs exempt from captioning. 
• Opposed FCC decision allowing nearly 300 exemption requests based on the new category.
• Alerted consumers to take action and protest FCC decision above.
• Requested and received extension of deadline for submitting opposition comments on 494 captioning exemption requests.
• Requested and received FCC authorization for consumers to submit comments electronically to captioning exemption requests.

January – March 2007

• Led and coordinated efforts to read, analyze, and summarize each of the 494 captioning exemption requests, plus 34 more exemption requests posted in January and 20 more requests posted in February.
• Led and coordinated efforts to prepare comments (oppositions) for the above, which were filed individually with the FCC.
• Alerted consumers to take action and submit opposition comments.

April – June 2007

• Sought support from Congressional staff and FCC Commissioners and their staff for opposition submitted by consumer advocacy groups to 548 requests for exemption to closed captioning rules.
• Led and coordinated efforts to submit opposition comments with the FCC on 36 more captioning exemption requests.

July – September 2007

• Led and coordinated efforts to submit opposition comments with the FCC on 18 more captioning exemption requests.
• Presented a briefing on the status of captioning exemption requests at the TDI conference.

October – December 2007

• Led and coordinated efforts to submit opposition comments with the FCC on 17 more captioning exemption requests.

 January - March 2008

• Led and coordinated efforts to submit oppostion comments with the FCC on 30 more captioning exemption requests.

Caption Quality and Enforcement

Ongoing, 2006-2008

• Continued to advocate for the FCC to issue rules to improve caption quality and to improve monitoring and enforcement of the closed captioning rules.
• Above is in follow up to our petition to the FCC in 2004 and comments submitted in 2005 with the FCC in response to their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the same subject.

DTV and HDTV Captioning

April – June 2007

• Met with the FCC, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Digital Television (DTV) Coalition, and Congressional staff to present concerns about digital television transition (February 2009), the development of analog-to-digital converter boxes, and reports of current problems with DTV and HDTV closed captions.
• Initiated compilation of a report and recommendations to resolve DTV captioning issues.

July – September 2007

• Met with the FCC, NTIA, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), individual and associations of program providers and manufacturers to present concerns about the digital television transition, development of analog-to-digital converter boxes, and reports of current problems with DTV and HDTV closed captions.
• Received favorable response by National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) to our request to close caption DTV transition public service announcements posted online.
• Submitted comments and reply comments with the FCC on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on DTV outreach and education.

October – December 2007

• Provided detailed feedback on draft FCC consumer advisory about DTV.
• Provided detailed feedback on draft DTV converter box coupon program information and application form.
• Participated in DTV Summit meeting with representatives from consumer groups, broadcasters and pay TV services, manufacturers, caption providers, engineers, and others to begin efforts to coordinate resolution of captioning issues related to DTV and HDTV. 

 January - March 2008

• Participated in an NTIA conference call on the DTV transition, in a meeting of the DTV Transition Coalition, and in an FCC Consumer Advisory Council teleconference on DTV.
• Wrote NADma article on DTV transition.

Relay Services

October – December 2006

• Responded to inquiries about NBC news reports on IP relay misuse by those posing as deaf persons and trying to defraud businesses, explaining how consumers were adversely impacted by businesses refusing to accept calls made through relay services.
• Met with the FCC and relay providers to consider options for reduction of IP relay misuse and so that consumer needs for relay access could be better served.
• Advocated for FCC outreach program to educate businesses about preventing commercial fraud/scams and about the importance, benefits, and legal obligations to accept calls made through any relay service.

January – March 2007

• Briefed Congressional staff on IP relay misuse and impact on consumers.
• Succeeded in FCC agreement to conduct an outreach program to educate businesses.
• Advocated for 10-digit numbering system for IP relay and VRS users, which will allow for more incoming calls, improved access to 911 and emergency services, and other benefits for users.
• Hosted Congressional demonstrations on VRS in the Senate and House of Representatives.
• Oswald v. Triangle Auto Parts – Successfully mediated complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in early 2006 alleging refusal to conduct business by phone through a relay service. 

April – June 2007

• Provided consultation to FCC which resulted in their issuance of a Public Notice to educate businesses about calls made through relay services.
• Chase Bank – Filed two complaints with DOJ against Chase Bank for allegedly refusing to accept telephone calls from deaf individuals using relay services. These cases are pending.
• Sue Peking’s Express, Fortune Gourmet, and Panda West – Filed three complaints with DOJ against restaurants that allegedly refused to accept relay calls. These cases are pending.
• Peroutka and Peroutka – Filed complaint with DOJ against a law firm that allegedly refused to accept relay calls. This case is pending.

July – September 2007

• Continued to advocate for 10-digit numbering system for IP relay and VRS users.
• Submitted comments and supplemental comments with the FCC opposing the use of non-compete provisions in employment contracts for VRS interpreters.

October – December 2007

• Edited suggested legislative report language for H.R. 3403, a bill to modernize the 911 call system, and met with Congressional staff about possible amendment to H.R. 3403 on a 10-digit numbering system for Internet based relay services. 
• Efforts resulted in Congressional letter to the FCC to complete action on provision of access to 911 by users of Internet-based relay services by the end of 2007 and to implement a 10-digit numbering system for Internet-based relay users by the end of March 2008.

January - March 2008

• Participated in the FCC-sponsored E911 Summit. 
• Worked closely with TDI and its E911 Stakeholders Committee on E911 and 10-digit numbering • Responded to IP Relay misuse/fraud inquiries from advocates, service providers, and government officials.
• Participated in the FCC-sponsored E911 Summit.
• Worked closely with TDI and its E911 Stakeholders Committee on E911 and 10-digit numbering issues for Internet-based relay services.  Met with proponents of 10-digit numbering plans and with FCC staff.  As a result, the FCC issued an interim E911 order and committed to a timeline to select a 10-digit numbering system by 06/30/08 and implement that system by December 31, 2008.
• Posted Advocacy Blog article, “FCC Orders Emergency Call Handling and Commits to Numbering for Internet Relay Users in 2008.” 
• Germano v. International Profit Association – Joined as co-counsel on appeal of employment discrimination case alleging refusal to hire because of deafness.  This case raised an issue of first impression: whether a statement made through a telecommunications relay service constitutes inadmissible hearsay. 
• Posted Advocacy Blog article, “NAD Says Courts Should Treat Relay Calls Same as Voice Calls.”

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Voting Access

January – March 2007

• Sent letters to the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) requesting that all televised and audiovisual Internet communication from candidates be captioned.

April – June 2007

• Followed up with RNC and DNC on candidate provision of televised and Internet captioning access.

July – September 2007

• Agreed to co-sponsor Presidential Candidates Forum: A National Forum on Equality, Opportunity, and Access, slated for November 2007 in New Hampshire.
• Received favorable responses regarding candidate provision of televised and Internet captioning access.

October – December 2007

• Sent letters to and followed up with phone calls to all presidential candidates requesting that they caption or provide a transcript for all of their audiovisual material shown on television or the Internet; posted links to their websites on the NAD website.
• Co-sponsored Presidential Candidates Forum: A National Forum on Equality, Opportunity and Access" in New Hampshire. Participated in the forum that was attended by several presidential candidates and broadcasted by Manchester Public Television with webcast by HOVRS. 
• Added “VOTE 2008” information to the NAD website encouraging voter registration and providing information about advocacy activities, voter preparation, voter resources, and accessible voting.

 January - March 2008

• Posted Advocacy Blog article"Vote 2008," explaining information on NAD website.
  

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Youth

July 2006 – September 2007

• Seventeen presentations were given across the nation by Miss Deaf America as ambassador of goodwill. This was in addition to daily workshops given during the 2007 Junior NAD National Conference.
• Hosted two Youth Leadership Camp sessions at Camp Taloali in Stayton, OR, with 64 high school campers from 22 states and Sweden in 2006, and 62 campers from 23 states and Canada in 2007.
• Over 500 Junior NAD high school students were active in 30 chapters across the nation during the 2006-2007 school year.

October - December 2007 

• Held the 2007 Junior NAD Conference, hosted by the Junior NAD chapter of the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in Tucson, with students and advisors from 28 schools in attendance.

January - March 2008

• Responded to IP Relay misuse/fraud inquiries from advocates, service providers, and government officials.
• Hosted highly successful NAD Leadership Training Conference (NLTC ’08) at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, with 131 attendees from 32 states.
• Announced expansion of College Bowl competition to include a fourth team in addition to the three legacy universities (CSUN, Gallaudet, and NTID) at this summer’s 2008 NAD Conference in New Orleans, LA.
• Provided support for DYUSA camp gathering prior to 2008 NAD Conference, with a youth roundtable session to be held towards the end of the conference week.
• Initiated Youth Programs blog site, for program coordinator remarks, updates, and information-sharing.

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Additional Highlights

July – September 2006

• Feldman, Kelly, and Singleton v. Washington Redskins – Filed complaint in federal court, alleging failure to ensure access to sports arena. This case is pending.
• Tokioka v. PONY Baseball, Inc. – Settled complaint filed with DOJ alleging that PONY denied a player access to a sign language interpreter during a baseball tournament.

July – October 2006

• Issued several open letters regarding the presidential selection process and leadership crisis at Gallaudet University; provided key assistance to faculty, staff, student, and alumni leadership.

October – December 2006

• Ellis Island – Successfully settled complaint filed in 2004 with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), after the DOI refused to provide interpreter services for the Senior Deaf Group of the Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center in Midland Park, New Jersey, to tour Ellis Island.

April – June 2007

• Joined as national outreach partner for PBS documentary, “Through Deaf Eyes,” shown nationwide on March 31, including preliminary screenings and panel discussions.
• Wrote NADmag article on “The PONY Baseball Case: It’s a Whole ‘Nother Ball Game.”
• Hess v. Bank of America – Complaint filed in a Florida district court alleging denial of the opportunity to open a new account at a branch bank, because the person was deaf. This case was successfully settled.

July – September 2007

• Monitored the progress of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Restoration Act of 2007 – H.R. 3195/S. 1881, introduced in July 2007.
• Hosted "Celebrate ASL!" event in observance of Wolrd Federation of the Deaf (WFD) International Day of Sign Languages at Gallaudet University. This event was co-sponsored by the Gallaudet ASL and Deaf Studies Department.
• Posted Celebrate ASL! events held around the country on the NAD web site.

October - December 2007

• Wrote NADmag article on access to the Internet through captioning.
• Launched NAD Across America campaign with the goal of increasing membership and building an online community.
• Hosted a memorial service celebrating the life of Dr. Frank G. Bowe, noted deaf advocate and disability activist, at Gallaudet University.

January - March 2008

• Partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to share information on “Economic Stimulus Payment Basics,” in three ASL videos, along with an English transcript of the content.
• Launched, with Deaf Seniors of America (DSA), the first-ever and comprehensive listing of “Senior Resources” of interest to older deaf persons and their families or caregivers.
• Established an NAD Blue Ribbon Panel on Interpreter Services to engage groups across the nation in a collaborative effort to address the continuing nationwide interpreter shortage.
• Updated NAD scam alert webpage and posted NAD Advocacy Blog article, “Scam Alert – Protect Yourself.”
• Presented keynote address at the “Making Myself Heard” conference, sponsored by the Valley Community Services Board, in Richmond, VA.
• Feldman, Kelly, and Singleton v. Washington Redskins – Complaint filed in August 2006 in federal court alleging failure to ensure access to a sports arena. Filed opposition to defendants' motion for summary judgment and plaintiffs' cross motion for summary judgment. This matter is pending action by the court.

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The NAD Law and Advocacy Center works daily on federal legislative and public policy issues of importance to the American deaf community, and frequently collaborates with other national organizations representing deaf and hard of hearing persons and individuals with disabilities. Attorneys at the NAD take on a few carefully selected cases with potential to set national precedent; they also provide technical assistance to lawyers across the nation who represent deaf or hard of hearing clients. The NAD currently has two full time and two part time staff attorneys, whose work is supplemented by seasonal law student interns.

Youth Programs are a vital aspect of the NAD, with its College Bowl biennial competition, Junior NAD chapter network across the nation, Miss Deaf America biennial competition, two-year Miss Deaf America ambassadorship program, and annual Youth Leadership Camp activities. These activities are coordinated by one person who is also involved with the NAD as a whole, with an occasional part-time assistant and numerous dedicated volunteers across the nation.

The NAD represents the United States as an affiliate member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), which is a global human rights organization that has world Congresses every four years. International activities of the NAD are carried out through a committee that also works closely with NAD-supported members of the WFD Board and Youth Section.

Every day, the NAD receives and responds to e-mails, phone calls, and in-person and requests for general information and referral, advocacy support, legal guidance, youth information, and technical resources.

Together, We Move Forward!

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